As a college admissions consultant,I always encourage students to succeed at the highest level in both their classes and on the standardized tests required for acceptance at most colleges. But given that success is measured differently for every student, I want to provide some guidance for those who have a mid-range or lower GPA.

In looking for schools that are the right “fit” for your child, we suggest broadening the criteria to include more than just the basics of a “good education” or “schools I have heard of.” Balancing what students think they want with what they need to be successful is challenging. There are a few guidebooks available, such as America’s Best Colleges for B Students and one of my personal favorites, Colleges That Change Lives, which can help mid-range students get started on their college search. Talking through some of the following introspective questions also may help the process to move ahead.

Milwaukee doesn’t have a hospitable winter climate, and the arena was a mile away from our dorm. Didn’t matter. The team was just above .500. Didn’t matter. Games were often on weeknights, with tests and papers due the next day. Didn’t matter. We painted our faces, donned our gold (under multiple layers of fleece and thermals), and made the trip – usually on foot, even though there were shuttles available – yelling the whole way. Men’s basketball was a unifying factor on campus, part of the reason I picked my school, and the source of some of my fondest undergrad memories.

It’s Ski Week here in California, and many of my juniors are taking advantage of their vacation to visit colleges. A lot of students prioritize distance from home when making their college list; either they want to stay within a close drive, or they are chomping at the bit to get as far away as possible! Especially with students who have a strong opinion about location, I ask them to back up for a bit before I suggest colleges to visit. What’s really behind that desire to stay close, or to go far?

When I begin talking with families about a college list, many parents lead the conversation with the question, “How do wechoose the right college if my child is undecided about what major she wants to study?” I tell these parents that for at least 80 percent of students, major shouldn’t be a main driver in where they pick a college. Why?

American higher education is unique in many ways, and one of those is the idea that students ought to attend college with a goal of exploring many subjects in order to figure out what they want to study. They do not need to begin their university education with a set course of action. To reinforce this idea, most colleges don’t ask for students to ultimately declare a major until the end of sophomore year. And many also require quite a few introductory courses, not only to give students a more robust general education, but to let them see what subjects might pique their interest.

As the calendar turned from 2013 to 2014, a new wave of juniors around the country began to feel the college application process accelerate. In addition to looming deadlines, many high school juniors are stressing about how to pick a college that suits their needs. This year, your junior will write all of his essays and all the drafts that go with it. He’ll sit for an SAT or two, or three. He will build his college list from scratch, narrow down his choices, add a handful of new schools at the last minute, eliminate some old favorites, and finally settle on his ideal list. You’ll find yourself on school campuses here and there, taking notes on tour guides, critiquing their grace as they introduce you to their school while gesturing wildly at campus monuments and walking backwards. In one year, the majority of the application process will be over, whether it’s handled flawlessly or imperfectly. But there are a few things you can do to help save some stress around your household.

Concerned that your child is heading off to college in the fall with no idea what he wants to study? Worried that your daughter has her sights set on a career that isn’t a good fit for her abilities? Are you struggling to select a primary focus from your three main areas of interest and anxious about wasting your parents’ and your own money on tuition as a result? You’re not alone! College Coach’s senior director of educational consulting Elizabeth Heaton spoke to US News and World Report about this widespread issue, offering some tips for working through this particular challenge.

Q: I have just received a denial letter from a college. Can I appeal the decision?

A: It can be a natural feeling when receiving a thin envelope to want the admissions committee to reconsider their decision. Did they see your solid grades? Do they know how hard that AP Bio course is at your school? Do they know how hard it was to get that internship?

Last week the US Department of Education unveiled the College Scorecard, an interactive tool designed to help families compare the affordability and value of one college against another. Some look at the move, first introduced in President Obama’s State of the Union address, as a positive step towards college finance transparency. Others see this device as well intended, but too limited in scope to actually help families make informed choices about college cost. Here’s what experts on College Coach’s Admission and Finance Teams have to say:

At a recent family gathering, a good friend pulled me aside to ask a question about the University of California system. Having read that UC Berkeley admitted a record number of non-California residents, she wanted to know whether or not the UCs remained a viable option for her own children who would be applying to college in California as in-state students. Resisting the urge to playfully remind her that her oldest was only five, I started addressing one of the biggest questions college admissions consultants are often asked:

Are state schools increasingly admitting more out of state and international students at the expense of qualified state resident applicants?

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The Insider: College Admissions Advice from the Experts is where College Coach experts weigh in on the latest college admissions topics. We cover everything from application timelines and strategies to tips on financing your child's education.